Don Kelly

DETROIT -- Buck Showalter has played postseason chess several times before, and like most participants as confident as he is, he has lost more times than not.

But in the Orioles’ triumphant American League Division Series sweep of the Detroit Tigers, the manager pulled all the right strings.

Before the Orioles’ series-clinching Game 3 win over the Tigers on Sunday afternoon, he switched the rotation, tabbing right-hander Bud Norris to start. And down to the final two outs, he veered from the unconventional, putting the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth with an intentional walk before allowing closer Zach Britton to finish a three-game sweep of the...

Related "Don Kelly" Articles

DETROIT -- Buck Showalter has played postseason chess several times before, and like most participants as confident as he is, he has lost more times than not.
But in the Orioles’ triumphant American League Division Series sweep of the Detroit Tigers, the...

DETROIT — Since the moment right-hander Bud Norris joined the Orioles in a trade last July, he has talked about pitching in the playoffs.
The chatty 29-year-old finally received the chance Sunday on a blistery afternoon at Comerica Park against the...

The Orioles will only have two lefties in their bullpen for the American League Division Series that starts tonight at 5:37 p.m. against the Detroit Tigers, and Ubaldo Jimenez is a surprise addition to the roster.
The Tigers don’t have many left-handed...

When Jim Johnson blew a save in the past two seasons, Orioles manager Buck Showalter continued to stick with him as the club’s closer because of his experience in the role.
This year, though, closer Tommy Hunter’s leash seems to be a bit tighter.
...

The Orioles offense received the wake-up call it needed in the fourth inning of Wednesday afternoon’s series finale when Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander threw a 94-mph fastball behind designated hitter Nelson Cruz.
The pitch appeared to...

March 21, 2006: Their 30th basketball victory, a team record, sends the Maryland women to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. Sophomore center Crystal Langhorne scores 30 points as the third-ranked Terps stop St. John's, 81-74, in State College, Pa.,...

Like Rudolf Nureyev, the Tigers have turned on a dime.They appeared to be downsizing less than two years ago when they traded Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson in moves that seemed to show owner Mike Ilitch's concern over a...

For much of the season, Orioles starting pitcher Brian Matusz has tried to put a positive spin on his disastrous year, promising to work hard and attempt to turn around 2011 while he still could.
The Orioles' 10-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Sunday was...

On a night when the league's most dominant hurler was trying to put an exclamation point on the best season for a pitcher in two decades and on a night when a likely Hall of Famer made international baseball history, the Orioles' 6-5 victory over the...

The Marlins moved closer to setting their roster for opening day by trimming four players Tuesday morning.
Utility infielder Don Kelly and outfielder Justin Maxwell exercised options in their contracts and became free agents. Both were non-roster...

The Marlins have yet to make a significant addition to their roster this offseason but avoided a subtraction by agreeing to a one-year deal to retain backup catcher Jeff Mathis, the club confirmed Friday.
Mathis, 32, returning for his fourth season...

DETROIT -- James Shields allowed a game-opening single then retired the next 18 batters he faced Wednesday night as the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 3-0 to reclaim a one-game lead in the American League Central Division.
The right-handed...

DETROIT -- J.D. Martinez and Rajai Davis hit home runs and Max Scherzer held the Kansas City Royals to one run in 6 2/3 innings Tuesday night in a 4-2 Detroit Tigers victory. The win was enough to pull the Tigers into a first-place tie with the Royals...